Ordinary Language Statements to Categorical Form
Write the following sentence in standard categorical form.
The only animals that live in this canyon are skunks.
All animals that live in this canyon are skunks.
Rewrite the following into a standard form categorical syllogism. (there will be more than 3 terms that you will need to make into only 3 terms)
Some intelligible statements are true statements, because all unintelligible statements are meaningless statements and some false statements are meaningful statements.
some non-T are M. (convert, obvert)
all non-T are non-M (contrapose)_____________________________
Some I are T
Some M are not T
All M are I
______________
Some I are T
Write out the missing premise/conclusion.
Some police chiefs undermine the evenhanded enforcement of the law, because anyone who fixes parking tickets does that.
Some police chiefs fix parking tickets (premise)
Identify the name of the fallacy.
The position open in the accounting department should be given to Francine Thompson. Francine has six hungry children to feed, and her husband desperately needs an operation to save his eyesight.
Appeal to pity
Identify the name of the fallacy.
No one has ever been able to prove the existence of extrasensory perception. We must therefore conclude that extrasensory perception is a myth.
Appeal to ignorance
Write the following sentence in standard categorical form.
She invited only wealthy socialites.
All people she invited are wealthy socialites.
Rewrite the following into a standard form categorical syllogism. (there will be more than 3 terms that you will need to make into only 3 terms)
Some unintentional killings are not punishable offenses, inasmuch as all cases of self-defense are unpunishable offenses, and some intentional killings are cases of self-defense
Some I are C
All C are non-P
_______________
Some non-I are not P (contrapose)
Some I are C
All C are non-P
_____________
Some non-P are not I
Write out the missing premise/conclusion.
A few fraternities have dangerous initiation rites, and those that do have no legitimate role in campus life
A few fraternities have no legitimate role in campus life (conclusion)
Identify the name of the fallacy.
Of course you want to buy a pair of Slinky fashion jeans. Slinky jeans really show off your figure, and all the Hollywood starlets down on the Strip can be seen wearing them these days.
Appeal to the people
Identify the name of the fallacy.
Vladimir Putin claims that the news media in Russia always report the news accurately, and that there is no pressure by the government to present an official perspective. Given Putin's intimate knowledge of the Russian government, we must conclude that news reporting in Russia is fair and objective.
Unqualified authority
Write the following sentence in standard categorical form.
All but managers must report to the president.
No managers are people who must report to the president, and all non-managers are people who must report to the president.
Rewrite the following into a standard form categorical syllogism. (there will be more than 3 terms that you will need to make into only 3 terms)
Some proposed flights to Mars are inexpensive ventures, because all unmanned space missions are inexpensive ventures, and some proposed flights to Mars are not manned space missions.
some P are not M
_________________
some P are non-E (obvert)
all E are M
some P are not M
_______________
some P are not E
Write out the missing premise/conclusion.
Not all text messages are welcome, but those from friends areSome text messages are not from friends (conclusion)
Identify the name of the fallacy.
U.S Senator Elizabeth Warren argues that big banks have been ripping off the American consumer for years. it's clear, however, that Warren says this only to scratch up more campaign contributions from those very consumers. Thus, you shouldn't take her arguments seriously.
Ad hominem
Identify the name of the fallacy.
Emily has bought over 100 tickets on the weekly state lottery, and she has never won anything. Therefore, the likelihood increases every week that she will win something if she continues to buy tickets.
False cause
Write the following sentence in standard categorical form.
Tomatoes are edible unless they are spoiled.
All unspoiled tomatoes are edible tomatoes.
Rewrite the following into a standard form categorical syllogism. (there will be more than 3 terms that you will need to make into only 3 terms)
Some foreign emissaries are people without diplomatic immunity, so some people invulnerable to arrest and prosecution are foreign emissaries, because no people with diplomatic immunity are people vulnerable to arrest and prosecution
some F are non-D (obvert)
no D are V
______________________
some non-V are F (convert, obvert)
some F are not D
no D are V
_________________
some F are not V
Write out the missing premise/conclusion.
Attempts to reduce tuition have failed in recent years because administrative salaries have exploded
Whenever administrative salaries have exploded, attempts to reduce tuition have failed (premise)
Identify the name of the fallacy.
TV commentator Maria Bartiromo argues that government should get off the back of the American businessman. Obviously, Bartiromo wants to abolish government altogether. yt without government there would be no defense, no judicial system, no Social Security, and no health and safety regulations. None of us wants to forgo these benefits. Thus, we can see that Bartiromo's argument is absurd.
Straw man
Identify the name of the fallacy.
The Daily News carried an article this morning about three local teenagers who were arrested on charges of drug possession. Teenagers these days are nothing but a bunch of junkies.
Write the following sentence in standard categorical form.
Few sailors entered the regatta.
Some sailors are people who entered the regatta and some sailors are not people who entered the regatta.
Rewrite the following into a standard form categorical syllogism. (there will be more than 3 terms that you will need to make into only 3 terms)
All P are non-W
Some E are W
_______________
Some non-P are not non-E
no P are W
some E are W
______________
some E are not P
Write out the missing premise/conclusion.
Mechanistic materialists do not believe in free will, because they think that everything is governed by deterministic laws
No one who thinks that everything is governed by deterministic laws believes in free will (premise)
Identify the name of the fallacy.
We've all heard the argument that too much time spent on video games is the reason student grades are suffering. Yet, many of these video game are great. Super Smash Brothers is a fun party game, Guitar Hero teaches students about music, and World of Warcraft keeps students in touch with their friends. Today's video games are wonderful!
Red herring
Identify the name of the fallacy.
The secretaries have asked us to provide lounge areas where they can spend their coffee breaks. This request will have to be refused. If we give them lounge areas, next they'll be asking for spas and swimming pools. Then it will be racquetball courts, tennis courts, and fitness centers. Expenditures for these facilities will drive us into bankruptcy.
Slippery slope